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UCPA Val d'isere

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Hello! Has anyone stayed at UCPA in Val D'isere previously? If so could you please shed some light on your experience. I want to book a last minute ski trip but will be travelling solo and this seems like a reasonably priced option.

I haven't been skiing before...so don't really know what to expect! Would appreciate any advice!

Thanks Smile
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
I haven't been to Ucpa in Val disere but can advise on Ucpa in general or the one in Val thorens if that helps?
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Based on experiences of wifes best friend who has stayed there (wife stayed years ago in the one in Les Arcs too) it is cheap and cheerful but what you get included is incredible but tends to be young backpacker style people. Rooms are typically 4 to a room bunk bed style. In Val the UCPA is in a reasonable location with the free bus from outside the front door virtually.... otherwise a 10 min stroll into town. Not ski in / out though! But if you can get a last minute deal with them then you should have a great time for a great price!
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@mojitogirl, you might want to see if the UCPA in Tignes has a good price, it is situated a bit better - no bus involved to get to the slopes - but neither is super for first timers - you'll be fairly limited to the runs you'd be able to do.
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Having learnt to ski with UCPA and having stayed at both Tignes and Val D UCPA, I would recommend Flaine Les Lindars for a first timer over either Tignes or Val D.
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Been to this UCPA twice. First time I went solo and loved it so much that I returned the following year with a couple of mates. The dorms are quite compact but no worse than most apartments I've stayed in. They tend to put english speakers together in my opinion which is handy but knowing the odd word or two of french is useful. The best thing about the UCPA system though are the lessons. 5hrs a day of instruction/guiding can bring your skill level up really quickly. Its also a great way to meet people as you tend to socialise in your instruction groups regardless of nationality.
The food is plentiful and decent canteen standard. If I'm honest I prefer Val D'Isere over Tignes just because of the variety of Apres ski but if you are based at Val you get taken over to the UCPA at Tignes for lunch on one of the instruction days.
Get it booked..... you'll love it.
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
Hi Mojitogirl!

I am often a solo traveler and have stayed at UCPA Val D'Isere three times. I am also going back later this year for the Frost Gun International festival week in February. So hopefully the following will help to answer your questions.

I can certainly say that I have had some really good holidays at UCPA Val D'Isere and I have met some really great people from all over Europe who I am still friends with.

However, you should know that there both good and bad points to this UCPA.

It is one of the older UCPAs and could do with some renovation. So don't expect five star accommodation. If anything I would describe the rooms as just ok. It does also compare unfavorably to other UCPAs such as Val Thorens which was super modern (I was there in January 2015). Mind you I have always found the UCPA at Val D'Isere to be clean. Also the last two times I have been I have also shared with five others in a room, with two rooms sharing a shower and a toilet. These arrangements seem to work and I have always found myself skiing and sitting down for meals with room mates. The food is reasonable and plentiful. There is a bar where discounted drinks can be bought and where there is always a good atmosphere.

The ski tuition has always been good. In previous years I have been in a mixed nationality group including Poles, Swedes, French and others from the UK. This is also a great way to meet people. In my experience the instructors in my groups have all been able to speak English with tuition in English and French. The free ski equipment has also been in good to excellent condition.

What else .... the UCPA is practically ski in and ski out (with a short walk), is well located to the ski bus, near all the bars and shops (but not above or next to them).

One other tip, if you are english or english speaking and want a room with other english speaking people (which could include swedes) book though Action Outdoors which is the UCPAs english agent, if you book directly with the UCPA you may end up in a room with french speaking people only.

On balance I would recommend the UCPA experience. Its a great way to go alone as a solo traveler and meet other like minded skiers and snowboarders.

(This is also my first snowheads post. So hello to all!!!! ) Very Happy
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
@jasski38, Welcome to snowHeads! Thanks for the feedback
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Thank you all for your advice! I have found it very useful Very Happy
You have all made me feel very comfortable here!
The reason why I chose Val D'Isere was because I heard it has an amazing Apres scene... and I love Apres! I am english so english speaking people would be a plus !

should i just try and opt for a last minute deal in a chalet instead? (if i can avoid paying the supplement cost?)
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@mojitogirl, Not sure why people are talking about ski bus in Val d'Isere. I stayed in a chalet past the UCPA place and a ski bus was never considered by any of the 16 people in the chalet. It's a very pleasant stroll along a pedestrian path past the church.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
Another +1 for UCPA VDI.

I've been twice with a group of friends, there are approx 250 guests in the centre when full I believe, with many solo travellers.

It's a really social experience and as a solo traveller, other than specifically organised single holidays etc... I can't think of a better way to learn to ski and to meet new people.

The food is great, the equipment is normally excellent and overall it represents unbeatable value (in my humble opinion).

The other comments are correct, it is an older centre and there may be more suitable UCPA centres for a beginner. However, it's a short walk to the nursery slopes and a short walk to the bars in the town.

The apres scene is pretty lively with the Folie Douce on the mountain, however Cafe Face and Cocorico were preffered by me and my friends for apres generally.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
If you are going this week you could always choose the Solo travel to Serre Chevalier. I havent used them but was looking into it.

https://www.action-outdoors.co.uk/singles/winter-solo-dates
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
@Umi, welcome to snowHead
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
@mojitogirl, I reckon you'll meet more of a crowd to apres with in the UCPA than in a chalet, and guaranteed there will be lots of other solo travelers in the UCPA. Last minute deal in a chalet might be a bit risky from that point of view - you might meet like-minded people, but equally you might not!
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Thanks again all. I have taken the above advice on board, and taken the bullet....and booked UCPA Val D Very Happy Smile I cannot wait, I am so excited to learn to ski and meet new people. I just hope I do not fall over too much and will have to wrap up warm!
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Good luck - you'll love it!
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 Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
@mojitogirl, come back and let us know how it went!
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Hello All! I returned from skiing yesterday and it was absolutely incredible! I loved it though I am still struggling ... everyone else in my class advanced much quicker than I did and because I had also missed 2 the instructor said I could no longer ski with the class and had to go out by myself! Nonetheless it would good, UCPA was a great place to stay and meet other people (there were quite a few people from the UK) and the location was amazing. I stuck with a few guys from my class and we met some of their friends who were out in Val D.

Apres ski is amazing, i absolutely loved it.

One negative point is that there was a very creepy french man who was a visitor staying there acting inappropriately. He kept going upto girls including myself and trying to get too close, and he even followed one of the girls to her room.

I now have the skiing bug, desperate to get better and go back again. In fact, I am super keen on going back during Easter Weekend for a short trip, perhaps to Meribel ... though I love Val D!

Thank you all for the great advice, I had the time of my life!!
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Glad you enjoyed it. What happened did you miss classes?
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Hello.

I went with ucpa tignes and val thorens last year and was going to book on the val t trip for 26th march but its now fully booked!! Really want to get on the snow this season. Ive looked at val d and I think tignes still have spaces. I'm looking for a week either from 26th or week after?
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Im looking at other Booking a ucpa for the first week of april, looking for any other snowheads heading out at that time!
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 Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...
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Hi. Yea I'm looking to do that. Was hoping to go 26th March but 2nd April would suit me too.
I loved val thorens but tignes has been refurbished.

Where would you be flying from?
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
I might be up for that week too. I'm just waiting for work rota.
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im ringing up later to see about places, I've been told there is already 17 Brits out that week but they weren't solo skiers. Would be nice if there was a few solo guys. I'm travelling from Devon if anyone is in that area
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Is that for val d?
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 snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
No for tignes.
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
speachmaus wrote:
Glad you enjoyed it. What happened did you miss classes?


Yes I missed 2 classes, so he said I couldn't ski with the group as everyone was now more advanced than me. I struggled with the lessons at the beginning of the week as I found it really difficult to turn left ... I think I finally cracked it though. I also found it difficult as I don't have much physical strength, so even when I was putting all my pressure on my leg to turn it wasnt enough! Sad

People were very nice, and at some points other ski instructors helped me when I fell over. It was a shame the ski instructor we had didn't really speak fluent english which i thought was really odd as we were all an english speaking group.

I spoke with action outdoors today and they said theres only 1 space left on the weekend break in tignes 24th - 28th feb, but im not sure how keen I am on tignes as it's huge and not sure how beginner friendly it was it seems everyone goes to Val D for a night out.

I really want to go back for a short weekend break - does anyone have any suggestions on how best to proceed? looking for somewhere relatively cheap.... any thoughts would be greatly appreciated Smile
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 So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
So if you're just off somewhere snowy come back and post a snow report of your own and we'll all love you very much
Tignes Ucpa should be good. I haven't been but I've seen it. It's right next to a beginners slope. People maybe go over to follie douce in afternoon but I can't see them going in evening as its a long way back by bus (if there is still one in the evening) or taxi as the road goes way back down the valley and up the tignes valley. Tignes has decent night life there are lots of bars and a couple of night clubs.
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